Information processing system comprising a plurality of operation terminal devices and an information processing device

ABSTRACT

In the disclosed invention, correlation information expressing the correlation between a plurality of operation terminal devices and information operable therethrough is generated, and such correlation information is output to the operation terminal devices. Such present invention allows the operators of the operation terminal devices to readily recognize the correlation between the operation terminal devices and information operable therethrough among information handled on an information processing devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The subject application is related to Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2000-329595 filed on Oct. 27, 2000 in Japan, based on which thisapplication claims priority under the Paris Convention and the contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to an information processing systemsuch as a video game machine and a method for such processing, morespecifically to an operation terminal device such as a video gamemachine controller or an information transmission device fortransmitting information therebetween and a method for suchtransmission, and still more specifically to an information processingsystem comprising a plurality of operation terminal devices and aninformation processing device such as an entertainment system comprisinga video game machine and a plurality of controllers, a processingprogram for executing such operations and a recording medium storingsuch processing program.

[0003] There is known a video game machine having controller portscapable of connecting a plurality of controllers, to thereby allow aplurality of players to enjoy the same game through individuallycontrolling such controllers.

[0004] For a game enjoyed by a plurality of players through suchindividual operations of the controllers, it is necessary thatcorrelation between the individual game characters appear on atelevision monitor and the individual controllers for operating suchgame characters can be recognized by the players by themselves.

[0005] The game will never proceed smoothly if the players cannotrecognize by themselves that which game character is controlled by whichcontroller, so that it is particularly important for such game that thecorrelation between the game characters and the controllers can berecognized by the players.

[0006] It is to be noted now that the matters controlled by thecontroller are not limited to the game characters, and that the matterswhich should clearly be correlated with the controllers are again notlimited to the game characters, while the above description exemplifiesthose for simplicity.

[0007] In a conventional video game machine, controller ports providedto the main unit of the game machine and controllers operated by aplayer are connected via cables in one-to-one manner, so that eachplayer recognizes the correlation between a game character and acontroller responsible for operating thereof by tracing the cable andconfirming a position (a port number assigned to each port, for example)of a controller port to which the controller under handling by theplayer is connected. For example, for the case that game character “a”is operable via a first controller port by a controller, and that gamecharacter “b” is operable via a second controller port by anothercontroller, each player can know its own controllable game character bytracing the cable and confirming a port number to which the controlleris connected.

[0008] Some of conventional applications for the video game machine(game application program or device driver program) are known to allowthe controllers in a number larger than that of the controller port byusing a port duplicator (multi-tap).

[0009] Such method for recognizing that which controller is connected towhich controller port by tracing the cable is, however, disadvantageousin that such cable tracing is labor-consuming, which makes it difficultto confirm the correlation between the controller ports and theindividual controllers connected thereto in particular for the case thatthe video game machine and the controllers are rather distant with eachother while being connected with long cables, of for the case that alarge number of controllers are connected to the video game machine viatangled cables. This means that confirming the correlation between thecontroller operated by the player and the game character becomesdifficult or labor-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninformation processing device and a processing method, an operationterminal device, an information transmission device and a transmissionmethod, an information processing system, a processing program forexecuting such operations, and a recording medium storing suchprocessing program, all of which allow the operator to readily recognizethe correlation between the individual operation terminal devices andinformation operable therethrough in an information processing systemcomprising a plurality of operation terminal devices, an informationprocessing device capable of connecting such plurality of operationterminal devices, and an information transmission device for effectinginformation transmission between such devices, such system beingtypified by an entertainment system comprising a plurality ofcontrollers and a video game machine having controller ports capable ofconnecting such controllers.

[0011] According to the present invention, correlation informationexpressing the correlation between a plurality of operation terminaldevices and information operable therethrough is generated, and suchcorrelation information is output to such operation terminal devices.

[0012] Such correlation information is that by which plurality of theoperation terminals under connection can individually be identified, orinformation for symbolizing that operable through the operationterminals, both of which can preferably be displayed on display meansprovided to each of said operation terminal devices.

[0013] According to such present invention, the individual operators ofthe individual operation terminal devices can readily recognize thecorrelation between such individual operation terminal devices andinformation operable therethrough.

[0014] Other and further objects and features of the present inventionwill become obvious upon understanding of the illustrative embodimentsabout to be described in connection with the accompanying drawings orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employingof the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa principal portion of an entertainment system according to a firstembodiment;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a process flow of a controllerconnection management program;

[0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa video game machine having a plurality of controllers connected using aport duplicator;

[0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa principal portion of an entertainment system according to a secondembodiment;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa principal portion of an entertainment system according to a thirdembodiment;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process flow of a controllerconnection management program by which controller numbers or so aretransmitted for the case of one-to-multi radio connection;

[0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa principal portion of an entertainment system according to a fourthembodiment;

[0022]FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitution ofa principal portion of an entertainment system according to a fifthembodiment;

[0023]FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing showing a constitution of atransceiver with a switch;

[0024]FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing showing an exemplary constitutionof a principal portion of an entertainment system according to a sixthembodiment;

[0025]FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a process flow for thetransmission of controller numbers in a transceiver with a switchaccording to the fifth and the sixth embodiments;

[0026]FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an exemplary entireconstitution of the entertainment system according to the individualembodiments of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a controller;

[0028]FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an exemplary internalconstitution of a video game machine and a transceiver; and

[0029]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an exemplary internalconstitution of a controller and a transceiver.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Various embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that thesame or similar reference numerals are applied to the same or similarparts and elements throughout the drawings, and the description of thesame or similar parts and elements will be omitted or simplified.

[0031] First Embodiment

[0032]FIG. 1 shows an exemplary constitution of a principal portion ofan entertainment system as a first embodiment of the present invention,in which an entertainment device (e.g., a video game machine 10) andcontrollers (i.e., two controllers 20A, 20B in FIG. 1) as a plurality ofoperation terminal devices operable by the users (players) are connectedwith cables 13A, 13B, respectively.

[0033] In such example shown in FIG. 1, the cable 13A is electricallyconnected with the video game machine 10 by inserting a plug-inconnector 12A provided on one end thereof into a controller port 11A,and with the controller 20A by inserting a plug-in connector 14Aprovided on the other end thereof into a connection port (not shown) ofthe controller 20A. On the other hand, the cable 13B is electricallyconnected with the video game machine 10 by inserting a plug-inconnector 12B provided on one end thereof into a controller port 11B,and with the controller 20B by inserting a plug-in connector 14Bprovided on the other end thereof into a connection port (not shown) ofthe controller 20B.

[0034] The controllers 20A and 20B have display portions 21A and 21B,respectively, at a position readily recognizable by the players, wheredetails of the constitution including the appearance thereof will bedescribed later. Such display portions 21A and 21B are, for example,capable of providing display recognizable by the players, and can becomposed of a liquid crystal display panel, an organic or inorganicelectro-luminescence (EL) panel, a segment display device, and LED(light emitting diode) or the like.

[0035] Contents to be displayed on the individual display portions 21Aand 21B relate to correlation information expressing the correlationbetween the individual controllers and game characters, which includesthe numbers transmitted as being assigned to the individual controllersby the video game machine 10 (referred to as “controller number”hereinafter); icons or symbols for identifying the individualcontrollers; and icons or symbols for symbolizing, for example, the gamecharacters operable through the individual controllers.

[0036] Now the icon symbolizing the game character refers to a realillustration thereof or an abstract expression thereof.

[0037] The contents displayed on the display portions 21A and 21B arenot limited to the controller numbers or character icons, but can mostsimply be given by a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes), thenumber of which corresponding to the number of the controllers, andallowing an LED corresponding to a specific controller number assignedto such controller to be illuminated.

[0038] That is, it is sufficient enough for the display portions 21A and21B to display at least the controller numbers or the like which areassigned by the video game machine 10 to the individual controllers 20Aand 20B, to thereby make the players recognize them explicitly. In theexemplary case shown in FIG. 1, the controller number “1” appears on thedisplay portion 21A of the controller 20A, and the controller number “2”appears on the display portion 21B of the controller 20B.

[0039] Providing such display on the display portions 21A and 21B of theindividual controllers 20A and 20B ensures the players to confirm thatwhich game character is controllable through the controller in their ownhands.

[0040] To enable such display of the controller numbers, character iconsor the like on the display portions of the individual controllers, thevideo game machine 10 of this embodiment performs recognition andmanagement of the controllers under connection, as well as transmissionof information (correlation information) to be displayed on the displayportions of the individual controllers, according to an algorithm(referred to as “controller connection management program”) typicallyexpressed by a flow chart shown in FIG. 2.

[0041]FIG. 2 shows a process flow in the video game machine for the casethat the controller numbers are to be displayed on the display portionsof the individual controllers. The processing shown in FIG. 2 isconducted by running the controller connection management programcontained in a game application program or in a device driver programmainly on a CPU (central processing unit) of the video game machine.Constitution of an internal circuit of such video game machine will bedescribed later.

[0042] In the example shown in FIG. 2, upon starting of the controllerconnection management program, such program first prepares in step S1 acontroller registration table on, for example, a RAM (random accessmemory) in the video game machine, and then initializes the table.

[0043] Processing following the step S1 will start, for example, at apoint of time the controllers are connected to the video game machine ina power-supplied state. More specifically, as for the case of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the processing can start only after thecontrollers 21A and 21B are connected to the controller ports 11A and11B of the video game machine 10 via the cables 13A and 13B,respectively.

[0044] Now, the controller registration table refers to a table forregistering and managing the controllers whose connections to the videogame machine have been confirmed, and is designed so as to register amaximum number of the controllers available for the game applicationprogram.

[0045] For a game allowing the participation of four players forexample, a maximum number of the controllers in such controllerregistration table can be four.

[0046] In each cell of the controller registration table, informationnecessary for the controller under connection to communicate with thevideo game machine (e.g., site of the connection, a serial number of thecontroller, radio communication frequency) will have been recorded.

[0047] Each cell of the controller registration table previouslycontains a controller number, character icon or so, which is read out byrequest.

[0048] The controller number or a character icon read out from suchcontroller registration table is transmitted to the controllerregistered to such table, and displayed on the display portion of thecontroller, to thereby allow the player to confirm the correlationbetween the controller and the game character.

[0049] If any controller fails in communication with the major unit ofthe video game machine, it is assumed that such controller isdisconnected from the major unit of the video game machine or such videogame machine is disconnected from a power source, which results indeletion of information about such controller from the controllerregistration table.

[0050] Upon completion of the initialization of the controllerregistration table in step S1, the controller connection managementprogram will detect in step S2 any operation controller unlisted in saidtable, where the process skips to step S6 if no unlisted controller isdetected, and goes to step S3 if any unlisted controller is detected.

[0051] In step S3, the controller connection management program willjudge whether the controller registration table still has a freecapacity or not (i.e., whether the table contains a maximum number ofcontrollers or not), where the process skips to step S6 if no capacityis available, and goes to step S4 if any capacity is available.

[0052] In step S4, the controller connection management programregisters such unlisted controller into the controller registrationtable, and then goes to step S5.

[0053] In step S5, the controller connection management programtransmits a controller number, character icon or the like previouslycontained in a cell (registration site) on the controller registrationtable to the individual controllers connected to the video game machine.

[0054] More specifically, for the exemplary case of the first embodimentshown in FIG. 1, information such as a controller number or a charactericon assigned by the controller connection management program istransmitted from the video game machine 10 to the controllers 21A and21B through the cables 13A and 13B, respectively.

[0055] In the exemplary case of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1,controller number “1” for example is sent to the controller 20A, andcontroller number “2” for example is sent to the controller 20B. Thisallows the display portion 21A of the controller 20A to show thecontroller number “1”, and the display portion 21B of the controller 20Bto show the controller number “2”. Upon completion of the process instep S5 the process then goes to step S6.

[0056] In step S6, the controller connection management program judgeswhether one or more controllers are registered in the controllerregistration table, where the process goes back to step S2 for the casewith no controller registered, and goes to step S7 for the case with oneor more controllers registered.

[0057] In step S7, the controller connection management programcommunicates with the controller registered in such controllerregistration table, tries to fetch information about various buttonsprovided on the controller, details of which will be described in later,and then goes to step S8.

[0058] In step S8, the controller connection management program judgeswhether such trail for fetching information about the buttons on thecontroller was successful or not, that is, whether the communicationwith the controller was successful or not, where the process skips tostep S10 for the case the communication was successful, and goes to stepS9 for the case the communication resulted in failure.

[0059] Now according to such success/failure judgment of thecommunication in the foregoing steps S7 and S8, the events such that thecontroller once succeeded in the communication was disconnected laterfrom the major unit of the video game machine or such that a powersource was disconnected can also be detected.

[0060] In step S9, the controller connection management program deletesthe controller which have failed in the communication from thecontroller registration table, and then goes to step S10.

[0061] In step S10, the controller connection management program judgeswhether the communication completed between the video game machine andall of the controller registered in the controller connection managementtable or not, where the process goes back to step S7 for the case thecommunication did not complete yet, and goes back to step S2 for thecase all processing completed.

[0062] By virtue of such processing, the entertainment system of thefirst embodiment can provide recognition and management of thecontrollers under connection, and can provide display of a controllernumber or a character icon on the display portion of each controller.

[0063] While FIG. 1 exemplifies the case in which the controller ports11A and 11B of the video game machine 10 are connected to thecontrollers 20A and 20B, respectively, in an one-to-one manner using thecables, the first embodiment is also applicable for a case shown in FIG.3, in which one-to-multi cable connection is accomplished using portduplicators 303A and 303B. In such case, the controller numbers or sosent by the controller connection management program installed in thevideo game machine 10 can be displayed on the display portion 21provided to each of a plurality of controllers 20 a to 20 h connectedvia the port duplicators 303A and 303B.

[0064]FIG. 3 now shows a case in which the video game machine 10 havingtwo controller ports 11A and 11B is connected with two port duplicators303A and 303B to thereby allow eight controllers 20 a to 20 h to beconnected thereto.

[0065] In such case shown in FIG. 3, the controller port 11A of thevideo game machine 10 is connected with the port duplicator 303A via theplug-in connector 12A and the cable 302A. The port duplicator 303A hasfour taps (controller connection slots) 304 a to 304 d to which thecontrollers 20 a to 20 d are connected respectively through the cables305 a to 305 d. Similarly, the controller port 11B of the video gamemachine 10 is connected with the port duplicator 303B via the plug-inconnector 12B and the cable 302B, and such port duplicator 303B has fourtaps (controller connection slots) 304 e to 304 h to which thecontrollers 20 e to 20 h are connected respectively through the cables305 e to 305 h.

[0066] For the case a plurality of controllers are connected to a singlevideo game machine as shown in the above, the controller connectionmanagement program identifies the controllers based on the tap position(tap number) of the port duplicators to which the controllers areconnected. In an exemplary case shown in FIG. 3, assuming that thecontroller port 11A of the video game machine 10 has a port number of“1”, and the controller port 11B has a port number of “2”, and the taps304 e to 304 h of the port duplicator 303A have tap numbers of “1” to“4”, respectively, the controller connection management program assignsa controller number “1-1” to the controller 20 a, “1-2” to thecontroller 20 b, “1-3” to the controller 20 c and “1-4” to thecontroller 20 d. The controller 20 e to 20 h can similarly have thecontroller numbers of “2-1” to “2-4”. The controller connectionmanagement program transmits such controller numbers to thecorresponding controllers 20 a to 20 h, which will respectively appearon the display portion 21 of the corresponding controllers 20 a to 20 h.

[0067] Second Embodiment

[0068]FIG. 4 shows an exemplary constitution of a second embodiment inwhich a video game machine 30 and a plurality of controllers (i.e., twocontrollers 40A and 40B in FIG. 4) communicate with each other byone-to-one, bi-directional radio connection using transceivers.

[0069] In such example shown in FIG. 4, a transceiver 32A comprises aconnector portion 33A having a communication circuit incorporatedtherein for effecting the bi-directional radio communication and a radiocommunication antenna 34A, where the connector portion 33A of suchtransceiver 32A is inserted into the controller port 31A of the videogame machine 30 to thereby accomplish electrical connection. Similarly,a transceiver 32B comprises a connector portion 33B having acommunication circuit incorporated therein for effecting thebi-directional radio communication and a radio communication antenna34B, where the connector portion 33B of such transceiver 32B is insertedinto a controller port 31B of the video game machine 30 to therebyaccomplish electrical connection.

[0070] A transceiver 42A comprises a connector portion 43A having acommunication circuit incorporated therein for effecting thebi-directional radio communication and a radio communication antenna44A, where the connector portion 43A of such transceiver 42A is insertedinto the controller port (not shown) of the controller 40A to therebyaccomplish electrical connection.

[0071] Similarly, a transceiver 42B comprises a connector portion 43Bhaving a communication circuit incorporated therein for effecting thebi-directional radio communication and a radio communication antenna44B, where the connector portion 43B of such transceiver 42B is insertedinto the controller port (not shown) of the controller 40B to therebyaccomplish electrical connection.

[0072] The individual transceivers 32A, 32B, 42A and 42B can be thoseavailable in bi-directional radio communication based on, for example, ageneral-purpose, short-range, high-speed radio communication system suchas so-called Blue Tooth (registered trade name) or on a dedicatedshort-range radio communication system. In the case shown in FIG. 4, thetransceivers 32A and 42A are involved in a one-to-one radiocommunication, and the transceivers 32B and 42B are involved in thesame.

[0073] The controllers 40A and 40B, details thereof will be described inlater, have display portions 41A and 41B at a position readilyrecognizable by the players, similarly for the case of the controllers20A and 20B shown in FIG. 1.

[0074] Displays on such display portions 41A and 41B include controllernumbers transmitted as being assigned to the individual controllers; orcharacter icons operable through such controllers, which are displayedso as to explicitly be recognized by the players similarly to the casedescribed in the first embodiment.

[0075]FIG. 4 now exemplifies a case that a controller number of “1” isdisplayed on the display portion 41A of the controller 40A, and acontroller number of “2” is displayed on the display portion 41B of thecontroller 40B.

[0076] Also in the second embodiment, similarly to the case described inthe first embodiment, such displays on the display portions 41A and 41Bof the individual controllers 40A and 40B allow each player to confirmwhich game character is operable through the controller in its ownhands.

[0077] To enable such display of the controller numbers or charactericons on the display portions of the individual controllers, the videogame machine of the second embodiment recognizes and manages thecontrollers under connection and transmits displayed information to thedisplay portion of the individual controllers based on a process flowdescribed below.

[0078] It is now to be noted that the process flow by the controllerconnection management program in the second embodiment is approximatelythe same with that explained with reference to the flow chart in FIG. 2,so that the description below will be given only about the issuesdifferent from those in the first embodiment.

[0079] In the second embodiment, the controller connection managementprogram starts the process of step S1 in FIG. 2 upon establishment ofthe radio communication between the transceiver 32 (32A, 32B) connectedto the video game machine 30 and the transceiver 42 (42A, 42B) connectedto the controller 40 (40A, 40B) The processes from steps S1 to S4 arebasically the same with those described in the first embodiment.

[0080] In step S5 of the second embodiment, the controller connectionmanagement program sends information such as the controller numbers orcharacter icons to the controllers 40A and 40B through radiocommunication between the transceiver 32 on the side of the video gamemachine 30 and the transceiver 42 on the side of the controller 40.

[0081] In the exemplary case of the second embodiment in FIG. 4,controller number “1” is sent to the controller 40A, and controllernumber “2” is sent to the controller 40B. This results in displayingcontroller number “1” on the display portion 41A of the controller 40A,and controller number “2” on the display portion 41B of the controller40B. The processes from steps S6 to S10 are basically the same withthose described in the first embodiment.

[0082] Such processing allows the entertainment system of the secondembodiment to recognize and manage the controllers under connection, andto display the controller numbers, character icons or the like on thedisplay portions of the individual controllers.

[0083] Third Embodiment

[0084]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary constitution of a third embodiment inwhich a video game machine 30 and a plurality of controllers (i.e., fivecontrollers 41 a to 41 e in FIG. 5) communicate with each other byone-to-multi, bi-directional radio connection using transceivers.

[0085] In such example shown in FIG. 5, the transceivers 42 a to 42 eare inserted into the controllers 40 a to 40 e to thereby accomplishelectrical connection, similarly to the case shown in FIG. 4.

[0086] On the other hand, the transceivers 35A and 35B are inserted intothe controller ports 31A and 31B of the video game machine 30 to therebyaccomplish electrical connection, similarly to the case shown in FIG. 4.The transceivers 35A and 35B are now provided respectively with acommunication circuit capable of one-to-multi, bi-directionalcommunication using a plurality of transceivers on the controller sidebased on the time-division radio communication or frequency-divisionradio communication.

[0087] The exemplary case shown in which FIG. 5, the transceiver 35A onthe side of the video game machine 30 establishes radio communicationwith the transceivers 42 a to 42 c on three respective controllers 40 ato 40 c (referred to as a controller group 50A, hereinafter) in aone-to-three manner, and the transceiver 35B establishes radiocommunication with the transceivers 42 d and 42 e on two respectivecontrollers 40 d and 40 e (referred to as a controller group 50B,hereinafter) in a one-to-two manner.

[0088] The individual controllers 40 a to 40 e in the third embodimenthave display portions 41 a to 41 e similarly to the foregoingembodiments, on which the controller numbers, character icons or soassigned by the video game machine 30 are displayed so as to explicitlybe recognized by the players.

[0089] Now in the case exemplified in FIG. 5, controller number “1” isdisplayed on the display portion 41 a of the controller 40 a, controllernumber “2” is displayed on the display portion 41 b of the controller 40b, and similarly a controller number “3” on the display portion 41 c ofthe controller 40 c, controller number “4” on the display portion 41 dof the controller 40 d, and controller number “5” on the display portion41 e of the controller 40 e.

[0090] Also in the third embodiment, similarly to the case described inthe first and second embodiments, such displays on the display portions41 a to 41 e of the individual controllers 40 a to 40 e allow eachplayer to confirm which game character is operable through thecontroller in its own hands.

[0091] It is now to be noted that the process flow by the controllerconnection management program installed in the video game machine in thethird embodiment is approximately the same with that explained withreference to the flow chart in FIG. 2, so that the description belowwill be given only about the issues different from those in the firstand second embodiments.

[0092] In the third embodiment, the controller connection managementprogram starts the process of step S1 in FIG. 2 upon establishment ofthe radio communication between the transceivers 35A and 35B connectedto the video game machine 30 and the transceivers 42 a to 42 e connectedto the controllers 40 a to 40 e. The processes from steps S1 to S4 arebasically the same with those described in the first and secondembodiments.

[0093] In step S5 of the third embodiment, the controller connectionmanagement program executes, for example, processing shown in FIG. 6.

[0094] That is, in step S5 of the third embodiment, the controllerconnection management program first queries in step S11 the transceivers35A and 35B about the number of the controllers connected thereto underradio connection.

[0095] Next in step S12, the controller connection management programreceives from the transceivers 35A and 35B the number of the controllersindividually being connected thereto under radio connection. For thecase shown in FIG. 5 for example, the transceiver 35A is under radioconnection with the controller group 50A, and the transceiver 35B isunder radio connection with the controller group 50B, so that thecontroller connection management program receives from the transceiver35A the number of the controllers of “3”, and from the transceiver 35Bthe number of the controllers of “2”.

[0096] After receiving the number of the controllers, the controllerconnection management program then in step S13 sends all of such numbersof the controllers respectively related to the transceivers 35A and 35Bto the controllers 40 a to 40 e under radio connection through suchtransceivers 35A and 35B, or sends only the top numbers of thecontrollers respectively to the transceivers 35A and 35B, and makes suchtransceivers 35A and 35B to send such top numbers and the succeedingcontroller numbers to the controllers 40 a to 40 e under radioconnection.

[0097] More specifically for the case all of the controller numbers aresent from the transceivers to the controllers under radio connection,the controller connection management program sends the controllernumbers “1”, “2” and “3” to the transceiver 35A, and such transceiver35A then sends controller number “1” to the controller 40 a, controllernumber “2” to the controller 40 b and controller number “3” to thecontroller 40 c.

[0098] The controller connection management program also sends thecontroller numbers “4” and “5” to the transceiver 35B, and suchtransceiver 35B then sends controller number “4” to the controller 40 dand controller number “5” to the controller 40 e.

[0099] On the other hand, for the case only the top numbers of thenumbers of the controllers are sent to the transceivers, and such topnumbers and the succeeding numbers are sent from such transceivers tothe controllers, the controller connection management program sends tothe transceivers 35A and 35B the top numbers of the number of thecontrollers respectively connected thereto.

[0100] The controller connection management program now defines an orderof the allocation of the top numbers for the individual transceiversconnected to the controller ports (or may previously be defined), andthen sends such top numbers, not overlapping with each other, to theindividual transceivers according to such order of the allocation.

[0101] That is, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5, for the casethe transceiver 35A has the first priority for the allocation of the topnumber and the transceiver 35B has the second priority, the controllerconnection management program sends to the transceiver 35A a top numberof “1”, and sends to the transceiver 35B a top number of “4” which islarger than “1” by 3 representing the number of the controllersconnected to the transceiver 35A.

[0102] The transceivers 35A and 35B in such case are designed to sendthe received top numbers and the succeeding numbers in for example anascending order. So that the transceiver 35A sends for example acontroller number of “1” to the controller 40 a, a controller number of“2” to the controller 40 b and a controller number of “3” to thecontroller 40 c; and the transceiver 35B sends for example a controllernumber of “4” to the controller 40 d and a controller number of “5” tothe controller 40 e.

[0103] This results in displaying the controller number “1” on thedisplay portion 41 a of the controller 40 a, the controller number “2”on the display portion 41 b of the controller 40 b, the controllernumber “3” on the display portion 41 c of the controller 40 c, thecontroller number “4” on the display portion 41 d of the controller 40d, and the controller number “5” on the display portion 41 e of thecontroller 40 e.

[0104] After completion of step S13 in FIG. 6, the process goes to stepS6 in FIG. 2. The processes from steps S6 to S10 are basically the samewith those described in the first and second embodiments. It is now alsoallowable to execute steps S11 and S12 in elsewhere before in step S5(after step S1, for example).

[0105] Such processing allows the entertainment system of the thirdembodiment to recognize and manage the controllers connected in aone-to-multi manner, and to display the controller numbers on thedisplay portions of the individual controllers. Thus according to thethird embodiment, displaying the controller numbers on the displayportions 41 a to 41 e of the respective controllers 40 a to 40 e allowseach player to confirm that which game character is controllable throughthe controller in its own hands, similarly to the foregoing first andsecond embodiments.

[0106] Fourth Embodiment

[0107]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary constitution of a fourth embodiment inwhich a video game machine 30 and a plurality of controllers(controllers 41 a to 41 e) communicate with each other by one-to-multi,bi-directional radio connection using transceivers, similarly to thecase shown in FIG. 5. The constitution shown in FIG. 7 is basically thesame with that shown in FIG. 5, so that detailed description thereofwill be omitted.

[0108] It is now be noted that the case of the fourth embodiment shownin FIG. 7 differs from the case of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5in that the controller number is determined depending on a maximumallowable number of the controllers under the radio connection with thetransceivers, in place of being determined depending on the actualnumber of the controllers under the radio connection with the individualtransceivers at the controller ports.

[0109]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary case in which a maximum allowable numberof the controllers under the radio connection with the individualtransceivers 35A and 35B is set to “4”, and the controller numbers of“1”, “2”, “3”, “5” and “6” are displayed respectively on the displayportions 41 a to 41 e of the controllers 40 a to 40 e.

[0110] The processing in step S5 in FIG. 2 in the controller connectionmanagement program of the fourth embodiment, in which the controllernumbers are determined depending on a maximum allowable number of thecontrollers under the radio connection with the transceivers, will beexplained referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6.

[0111] It is now to be noted that the process flow by the controllerconnection management program in the fourth embodiment is approximatelythe same with that explained referring to the flow chart in FIGS. 2 and6, so that the description below will be given only about the issuesdifferent therefrom.

[0112] The controller connection management program in the fourthembodiment queries in step S11 in FIG. 6 the transceivers 35A and 35B onthe side of the video game machine 30 about the maximum allowable numberof the controllers connectable thereto.

[0113] Next in step S12, the controller connection management programreceives from the transceivers 35A and 35B the maximum allowable numberof the controllers individually connectable thereto. That is, for anexemplary case the maximum allowable number of the connectablecontrollers is 4, the controller connection management program receivesindividually from the transceiver 35A and 35B a maximum allowable numberfor the connectable controllers of “4”.

[0114] After receiving such maximum allowable number for the connectablecontrollers, the controller connection management program then in stepS13 sends the controller number to the controllers 40 a to 40 e throughthe transceivers 35A and 35B in a number equals to such maximumallowable number for the controllers connectable to such transceivers35A and 35B, or sends only the top controller numbers respectively tothe transceivers 35A and 35B, and makes such transceivers 35A and 35B tosend such top numbers and the succeeding controller numbers to thecontrollers 40 a to 40 e.

[0115] More specifically for the case the controller numbers are sentfrom the transceivers to the controllers in a number equals to suchmaximum allowable number for the controllers connectable to suchtransceivers, the controller connection management program sends thecontroller numbers “1”, “2”, “3” and “4” to the transceiver 35A, andsends the controller numbers “5”, “6”, “7” and “8” to the transceiver35B. The transceiver 35A received such controller numbers sends thecontroller numbers “1”, “2” and “3” to the controllers 40 a, 40 b and 40c under radio connection, while keeping the controller number “4” inpending since the destination thereof is absent. The transceiver 35Bsends the controller numbers “5” and “6” to the controllers 40 d and 40e under radio connection, while keeping the controller numbers “7” and“8” in pending since the destinations thereof are absent.

[0116] On the other hand, for the case only the top controller numbersare sent to the transceivers, and such top numbers and the succeedingnumbers are sent from such transceivers to the controllers, thecontroller connection management program sends to the transceivers 35Aand 35B the top numbers of the maximum allowable number of thecontrollers respectively connectable thereto.

[0117] The controller connection management program now defines an orderof the allocation of the top numbers of the maximum allowable number forthe connectable controllers for the individual transceivers connected tothe controller ports (or may previously be defined), and then sends suchtop numbers, not overlapping with each other, to the individualtransceivers according to such order of the allocation.

[0118] That is, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, for the casethe transceiver 35A has the first priority for the allocation of the topnumber and the transceiver 35B has the second priority, the controllerconnection management program sends to the transceiver 35A a top numberof “1”, and sends to the transceiver 35B a top number of “5” which islarger than “1” by 4 representing the maximum allowable number of thecontrollers connectable to the transceiver 35A.

[0119] The transceivers 35A and 35B in such case are designed to sendthe received top number and the succeeding numbers for example in anascending order. So that the transceiver 35A sends for example acontroller number of “1” to the controller 40 a, a controller number of“2” to the controller 40 b and a controller number of “3” to thecontroller 40 c; and the transceiver 35B sends for example a controllernumber of “5” to the controller 40 d and a controller number of “6” tothe controller 40 e.

[0120] This results in displaying the controller number “1” on thedisplay portion 41 a of the controller 40 a, the controller number “2”on the display portion 41 b of the controller 40 b, the controllernumber “3” on the display portion 41 c of the controller 40 c, thecontroller number “5” on the display portion 41 d of the controller 40d, and the controller number “6” on the display portion 41 e of thecontroller 40 e. The process then goes to step S6 in FIG. 2.

[0121] Such processing allows the entertainment system of the fourthembodiment to recognize and manage the controllers connected in aone-to-multi manner, and to display the controller numbers on thedisplay portions of the individual controllers.

[0122] Also the fourth embodiment allows the players to confirm thatwhich game character is controllable through the controller in their ownhands, similarly to the foregoing third embodiment.

[0123] It is now also allowable to assign the controller numbers to thecontrollers 40 a to 40 e in a descending order although the casesdescribed in the foregoing third and fourth embodiments employed anascending order.

[0124] It is still also allowable to assign arbitrary controller numbersso far as such numbers do not overlap with each other and so far as thecorrelation with the game characters is evident, in place of allocatingthe successive numbers in an ascending or descending order.

[0125] It is even allowable to display character icons on the displayportions 41 a to 41 e similarly to the case in the first and secondembodiments, in place of displaying the controller numbers.

[0126] Fifth Embodiment

[0127] The next paragraphs describe a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0128] Some previous application programs for video game machines do nothave a function (program) for sending the controller numbers orcharacter icons to the controllers unlike the controller connectionmanagement program described in the first to fourth embodiments. Suchprevious application programs identify the controllers connected to avideo game machine based on the position of the controller ports towhich the controllers are connected. For example, a controller connectedto a port having a port number of “1” is identified as controller “1”,and a controller connected to a port having a port number of “2” isidentified as controller “2”.

[0129] Such numbering for the controllers is, however, only usedinternally by the application program to identify the controllers, andthere is no practice to send such controller numbers to the controllersunlike the foregoing embodiments.

[0130] It is also common for the transceiver (e.g., transceivers 32A and32B in FIG. 4) connected to the controller port of the video gamemachine to have only a function of sending/receiving data in order tosuppress the cost and enhance the generality, and generally does nothave a function of recognizing the port numbers to which they areconnected and of sending such numbers to the controller.

[0131] So that even if the transceivers 32A and 32B for example as shownin FIG. 4 are connected to the controller ports of the video gamemachine, and the controllers 40A and 40B as shown in FIG. 4 are used,the controller numbers cannot be displayed on the display portions 41Aand 41B of such controllers 40A and 40B as far as the video game machineemploys the previous application program having no function of sendingthe controller numbers.

[0132] Then the fifth embodiment now employs, as shown in FIG. 8,transceivers 62A and 62B with connector portions 63A and 63B which haveswitches 65A and 65B with which the players can set the numbers and alsohave built-in communication circuits capable of sending the controllernumbers corresponding with the setting of such switches 65A and 65B.Attaching such transceivers 62A and 62B to controller ports 61A and 61Bof a video game machine 60 running the previous application programallows the controller numbers to be displayed on the display portions41A and 41B of the controllers 40A and 40B, respectively.

[0133] The case illustrated in FIG. 8 corresponds to that in FIG. 4, sothat explanation for portions same as those in FIG. 4 will be omitted.

[0134]FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of a transceiver 62 (62A or 62B).

[0135] In FIG. 9, the transceiver 62 (62A or 62B) mainly comprises aradio communication antenna 64 (64A or 64B) and a connector portion 63(63A or 63B), similarly to the transceiver shown in FIG. 4.

[0136] At the end portion of the connector portion 63 opposing to anantenna 64, provided is a contact portion 66 to be inserted into acontroller port 61 (61A or 61B) to thereby achieve electricalconnection. The connector portion 63 also has a switch 65 (65A or 65B)in a position readily recognizable by the player and preferablyaccessible by the player even when the contact portion 66 is insertedinto the controller port 61.

[0137] The switch 65 has setting positions in a number correspondingwith the number of the controller ports of the video game machine towhich the transceiver 62 is connected. For a case the number of thecontroller port of the video game machine 60 is two for example as shownin FIG. 8, the switch 65 will have two setting positions of “1” and “2”as shown in FIG. 9; whereas the number of the controller port of fourrequires such switch to have setting positions of “1” to “4”.

[0138] Switching of the positions of such switch 65 is manually done bythe player. For example, the position “1” is selected for the case thetransceiver 62 is inserted into the controller port of the video gamemachine having a port number of “1”, and the position “2” is selectedfor the case such transceiver 62 is inserted into the controller porthaving a port number of “2”.

[0139] The communication circuit incorporated into the connector portion63 generates a controller number corresponding to a position selected onthe switch 65, and then sends such number from the radio communicationantenna 64 to the controller 40 (40A or 40B).

[0140] This allows the display portion 41 of the controller 40 underone-to-one radio communication with the transceiver 62 to display thecontroller number sent from such transceiver 62.

[0141] In an exemplary case shown in FIG. 8 assuming a port number ofthe controller port 61A of the video game machine 60 as “1”, and a portnumber of the controller port 61B as “2”, the switch 65A on thetransceiver 62A will be set at position “1”, and the switch 65B on thetransceiver 62B will be set at position “2”, which results in thedisplay of a controller number of “1” on the display portion 41A of thecontroller 40A under one-to-one communication with the transceiver 62A,and results in the display of a controller number of “2” on the displayportion 41B of the controller 40B under one-to-one communication withthe transceiver 62B.

[0142] Now in such fifth embodiment, the connector portion 63 of thetransceiver 62 shown in FIG. 9 is explained as that sending to thecontroller 40 the controller numbers corresponding to the position ofthe switch 65, where the controller numbers specified by the controllerconnection management program can preferentially be sent rather than thecontroller numbers based on the position of the switch 65 when suchtransceiver 62 is connected to a video game machine supported by, forexample, the controller connection management program described in thesecond embodiment.

[0143] That is, mounting the transceiver 62 shown in FIG. 9 onto a videogame machine supported by such controller connection management programallows such transceiver 62 to send the controller number to thecontroller when such controller numbers are specified by the video gamemachine, and to send the controller number corresponding to the positionset by the switch 65 when the controller number are not specified by thevideo game machine.

[0144] Thus according to the entertainment system according to the fifthembodiment, the controller number is displayed on the display portion 41of the controller 40 irrespective of whether the video game machinesupports the controller connection management program or not.

[0145] Sixth Embodiment

[0146] While the foregoing fifth embodiment showed an exemplary case inwhich the one-to-one radio communication is established between thetransceiver 62 on the video game machine 60 not supported by theprevious controller connection management program and the transceiver 42on the controller 40, such transceiver having the switch 65 mountedthereon is also applicable to the one-to-multi radio communicationbetween a video game machine not supported by the foregoing controllerconnection management program and the controllers, as described in thesixth embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

[0147] The case illustrated in FIG. 10 corresponds to that in FIG. 5 orFIG. 7, so that explanation for portions same as those in FIG. 5 or FIG.7 will be omitted.

[0148] In one-to-multi communication as described in the sixthembodiment, a communication circuit incorporated in the connectorportion 63 (63A, 63B) of the transceiver 66 (66A, 66B) reads apositional set value (i.e., number) of the switch 65 (65A, 65B), andthen sends to each of the controller 40 under the radio communicationtherewith the controller number comprising the read value and a specificnumber differs for every controller.

[0149] This allows the display portions 41 of each controller 40 underone-to-multi radio communication with the transceivers 62 to display thecontroller number sent from the corresponding transceivers 62.

[0150] In an exemplary case shown in FIG. 10 assuming that thecontroller port 61A of the video game machine 60 has a port number of“1”, and the controller port 61B has a port number of “2”; the switch65A on the transceiver 66A will be set at position “1”, and the switch65B on the transceiver 66B will be set at position “2”; the controllers40 a, 40 b and 40 c in the controller group 50A under one-to-multicommunication with the transceiver 66A will be given with “1”, “2” and“3”, respectively as numbers differ for every controller, and thecontrollers 40 d and 40 e in the controller group 50B under one-to-multicommunication with the transceiver 66B will be given with “1” and “2”,respectively; which results in the display of a controller number of“1-1” on the display portion 41 a of the controller 40 a in thecontroller group 50A, a controller number of “1-2” on the displayportion 41 b of the controller 40 b, and a controller number of “1-3” onthe display portion 41 c of the controller 40 c, and results in thedisplay of a controller number of “2-1” on the display portion 41 d ofthe controller 40 d and a controller number of “2-2” on the displayportion 41 e of the controller 40 e.

[0151] Now also in such sixth embodiment, for the case that thetransceiver 66 is connected to the video game machine supporting thecontroller connection management program as described in the third orfourth embodiment, it is allowable to give priority to sending of thecontroller numbers specified by such controller connection managementprogram over the sending of the controller numbers based on thepositional setting of the switch 65, similarly to the fifth embodiment.

[0152] Thus according to the entertainment system of the sixthembodiment, the controller number is displayed on the display portion 41of the controller 40 irrespective of whether the video game machinesupports the controller connection management program or not.

[0153]FIG. 11 shows an exemplary case of a communication circuit of thetransceiver having the switch described in the fifth and sixthembodiments, in which the video game machine can send the controllernumbers irrespective of whether such video game machine supports thecontroller connection management program or not. A process flow shown inFIG. 11 now can be achieved by a software or a hardware, either will do,within the communication circuit of the transceiver.

[0154] As shown in FIG. 11, the communication circuit of the transceiverestablishes in step S21 the connection by radio communication betweenthe video game machine and at least one controller, and then judges instep S22 whether the application program of the video game machinespecified the controller number or not. For the case the applicationprogram of the video game machine is supported by the controllerconnection management program and thus the controller number is judgedin step S22 as being specified by the video game machine, thecommunication circuit will send in step S23 the controller numberspecified by such application program supported by the controllerconnection management program to the corresponding controller, and thengoes to a communication processing routine for playing an actual game orthe like.

[0155] On the other hand, the processing goes to step S24 if thecommunication circuit judges in step S22 that the application program ofthe video game machine is not supported by the controller connectionmanagement program and the controller number is thus not specified bysuch video game machine.

[0156] In step S24, the communication circuit detects what position isselected on the switch, and then detects in step S25 the number of thecontrollers with which the radio communication has already beenestablished.

[0157] When the number of the controllers detected in step S25 is “1”,the processing of the communication circuit goes to step S27, and is not“1” (i.e., “2” or above), to step S28.

[0158] The processing jumping from step S25 to step S27 corresponds to acase of one-to-one communication as in the fifth embodiment, and thatjumping from step S25 to step S28 corresponds to a case of one-to-multicommunication as in the sixth embodiment.

[0159] The communication circuits sends the controller number accordingto the position of the switch to the corresponding controller in stepS27, and then goes into a communication processing routine for playingan actual game or the like.

[0160] On the contrary in step S28, the communication circuit generatesthe number corresponding to the number of the controllers with which theradio communication has already been established, and then sends in stepS29 the controller number, comprising the number corresponding to theposition of the switch added with the number corresponding the number ofthe controllers, to the corresponding controller. Thereafter the processgoes into a communication processing routine for playing an actual gameor the like.

[0161] The transceiver described in the fifth and sixth embodiments isthus accomplished.

[0162]FIG. 12 shows an overall constitution of the entertainment systemcomprising the video game machine and the controller according to anyone of the foregoing embodiments. While FIG. 12 exemplifies the case inwhich the video game machine and the controller are under radiocommunication as explained in the second to sixth embodiments, the videogame machine and the controller may be under cable connection using thecable as explained in the first embodiment.

[0163] The entertainment system shown in FIG. 12 comprises a video gamemachine 101 (10, 30, 60) corresponding to that in the foregoingembodiments, a controller 102 (20, 40) corresponding to that in theforegoing embodiments, and a monitor device 100 (television receiver,for example) to which video and audio signals are supplied from thevideo game machine 101.

[0164] The video game machine 101 is provided with memory card slots114A and 114B allowing a memory card 103 to be inserted therein andejected therefrom, controller ports 115A and 115B (11, 31, 61) allowinga transceiver 107 (32, 35, 62, 66) such as those described in theforegoing embodiments and a cable plug-in connector (not shown) to beattached thereto or detached therefrom, a disk tray 113, an open/closebutton 112 for opening or closing the disk tray 113, and anON/stand-by/reset button 111 for effecting power supply, stand-by andreset; and further comprises, although not shown, an audio/video outputterminal (AV multi output terminal), a PC card slot, an optical digitaloutput terminal, an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers) 1394 connection terminal, an USB (Universal Serial Bus)connection terminal, a power switch, an AC power input terminal and soforth.

[0165] The individual connection terminals including the controller port115 preferably have asymmetrical openings so as to avoid incorrectinsertions.

[0166] The video game machine 101 may be such that executing a videogame based on an application program thereof stored in a disk-formedmedium such as so-called DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, or such that reproducing(decoding) video data or audio data stored for example in a DVD video orCD. For the case the application program thereof contains the foregoingcontroller connection management program, the video game machine 101 canalso send the foregoing controller numbers or so to the controller whilebeing controlled by such program.

[0167] Now the application program, video data and audio data are notlimited to those stored in a disk medium, but may also be those read outfrom semiconductor memories or tape media, or those supplied throughcable or radio, wide-area or private communication lines.

[0168] The appearance of the controller 102 will now be explainedreferring to FIG. 13.

[0169] The controller 102 has a connection port 131 to which atransceiver 135 (42) such as that explained in the foregoingembodiments, and a display portion 130 (21, 41) capable of displayingthe controller numbers or character icons. The connection port 131preferably has an asymmetrical openings so as to avoid incorrectinsertions.

[0170] The controller 102 has a right grip portion 122 held as beingwrapped by the right palm, and a left grip portion 121 held as beingwrapped by the left palm.

[0171] The controller 102 also has a right operational zone 128 and leftoperational zone 126 operable by the left and right thumbs while thegrip portions 121 and 122 being held in hands; a right analog operationportion 124 and a left analog operation portion 123 again operable bythe left and right thumbs in an analog manner; a first right push button148 and a first left push button 145 operable by left and right firstfingers; and a second right push button 147 and a second left pushbutton 146 operable by left and right second fingers.

[0172] In the left operational zone 126, an up button 142, a down button144, a left button 143 and a right button 141 are provided, all of whichare used by the player to move, for example, a game character on thedisplay screen. The right operational zone 128 has first to fourthoperation buttons 150 to 153 to which functions differ with each other,such as setting of the character functions or execution thereof, areassigned by the game application.

[0173] The left and right analog operation portions 123 and 124 haveright and left rotary operation elements 125 and 126, respectively,which are fully rotatable around the operation axis and automaticallyreturnable to the neutral position energized by an elastic member whenreleased from the thumb, and individually have a signal generatingportion, not shown, capable of generating signals corresponding to theoperation of such left and right rotary operation elements 125 and 126.

[0174] The left and right analog operation portions 123 and 124 are usedfor inputting command signals for effecting, typically by rotaryoperation of such left and right rotary operation elements 125 and 126,analogous motion of the game characters such as moving with rotation,moving with variable velocity and transformation.

[0175] The controller 102 is further provided with a mode selectionswitch 137 for activating or inactivating the functions of the left andright rotary operation elements 125 and 126, a light indicator portion136 for allowing the player to recognize a selected operation modetypically through illumination of an LED (light emitting diode), a startbutton 134, selection button 133, and the like.

[0176] The mode selection switch 137 is also used for switching thefunctions of the right operational zone 128 and the left operationalzone 126.

[0177] The controller 102 also has the display portion 130 explained inthe foregoing embodiments at a position well recognizable by the player,typically between the right operational zone 128 and the leftoperational zone 126, and the connection port 131 to or from which theforegoing transceiver 135 or a cable connector is attached or detached.

[0178] The controller 102 further has, in the left and right gripportions 121 and 122, a vibration generating mechanism for generatingvibration by, for example, rotating a weight around the axis of rotationof a motor while being kept eccentric therefrom, although not shown inFIG. 13. Activating such vibration generating mechanism in relation tothe state of progress of the game will cause vibration felt by theplayer's hands.

[0179]FIG. 14 shows a principal internal constitution of the video gamemachine 101 and the transceiver 107.

[0180] In the case shown in FIG. 14, the video game machine 101 mainlycomprises a control section 161 for controlling the individual internalconstitutional elements, an image processing section 169 for processingimages, an audio processing section 167 for audio processing, acommunication processing section 162 responsible for communication, adisk drive 172 for driving a disk medium and a decode processing section171 for decoding data read out from such disk medium.

[0181] The control section 161 typically comprises a CPU (centralprocessing unit) and peripheral devices thereof such as a ROM or RAM,and a transmission control section responsible for interrupt control anddirect memory access (DMA) transmission control. The ROM stores anoperating system (OS) for managing operations of the image processingsection 169 and the audio processing section 167, and other initial setvalues. The CPU controls the entire operations of the video game machine101 by executing such operating system stored in the ROM.

[0182] The image processing section 169 comprises a graphic processorunit (GPU), a geometry transfer engine (GTE), a frame buffer, an imagedecoder and so forth. The geometric transfer engine typically executescoordinate transformation including perspective projectiontransformation, and the graphic processor unit executes drawing based ondrawing instruction from the CPU in the control section 161. The framebuffer stores an image drawn by such graphic processor unit, and storesa frame image to be displayed on the television monitor. The imagedecoder decodes image data decoded as being compressed based on imagecompression system such that represented by MPEG (Moving Picture ExpertsGroup) standard.

[0183] The audio processing section 167 comprises a sound processor unit(SPU), a sound buffer and so forth. The sound processor unit has afunction of generating audio data such as music or effective sound and afunction of decoding audio data decoded as being compressed based onMPEG Audio or ATRAC (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding; trademark)under the instruction from the CPU in the control section 161. The soundbuffer stores waveform data providing a basis on which audio data isgenerated by the sound processor unit.

[0184] The image data generated by the image processing section 169 andthe audio data generated by the audio processing section 167 are outputfrom an audio/video output terminal (AV multi output terminal) 170 andthen sent to, for example, a television monitor.

[0185] When the disk medium storing the foregoing game applicationprogram or video/audio data is set and reproduction is instructed by thecontrol section 161, the disk drive 172 reads out data from such diskand then sends them to the decoding section 171.

[0186] The decoding section 171 decodes (correcting error of the datacoded by error correction coding) the data read out from the diskmedium, buffers them and then sends them to the control section 161. Nowfor the case the data supplied from the decoding section 171 relate to agame application program, the control section 161 allows the imageprocessing section 169 and audio processing section 167 to operateresponding to such game application program. For the case the datasupplied from the decoding section 171 are video or audio data, thecontrol section 161 sends such data to the corresponding imageprocessing section 169 or audio processing section 167.

[0187] The video game machine 101 also has a communication section 162responsible for communication with the controller 102 through theforegoing controller port 115, or for communication through an interfaceterminal 164 such as memory card slots 114A, 114B, a PC card slot, anoptical digital output terminal, an IEEE 1394 connection terminal and anUSB (Universal Serial Bus) connection terminal. The controller port 115is connected with, for example, the foregoing connection portion 181(66) of the transceiver 107, and the communication section 162 receives,in a synchronous manner, commands input through the controller 102 bythe player.

[0188] The transceiver 107 comprises a communication circuit section 182for effecting bi-directional radio communication, an antenna 184 (34,64), and, at need, a switch 183 (65) explained in the fifth and sixthembodiments. For the case the switch 183 is provided as explained in thefifth and sixth embodiments, the communication circuit section 182 alsoexecutes controller number generation processing as explained previouslyreferring to FIG. 11.

[0189]FIG. 15 shows a principal internal constitution of the controller102 and the transceiver 135.

[0190] In the case shown in FIG. 15, the controller 102 comprises, asmajor constituents, a control section 201 responsible for a control ofoperations of the individual sections and communication with the videogame machine 101, a parallel interface section 203 responsible forparallel communication between various operational sections or buttonsPB and the control section 201, a serial interface section 206responsible for serial communication with the video game machine 101through transceiver 135 or a cable, a display driver 202 driving displayportion 130, a motor 204 composing the foregoing vibration generatingmechanism and a motor driver 205. For the case the controller 102 andthe video game machine 101 are connected by radio communication throughthe transceiver 135, power is internally supplied from a battery 207. Onthe other hand, the battery 207 is not always necessary for the case thevideo game machine 101 and the controller 102 are connected by a cableand that power is thus supplied from such video game machine 101 throughsuch cable.

[0191] The control section 201 typically comprises a CPU and ROM or RAM,where the ROM stores a detection program for detecting input statusesfrom the various buttons PB, a driver control program for controllingthe display driver 202 and the motor driver, a communication program forprocessing communication with the video game machine 101 and so forth.The internal CPU controls the individual sections based on suchprograms.

[0192] The serial interface section 206 and the connection port 209 areconnected by a signal line TXD (Transmit Data) for transmitting datasent from the video game machine 101 to the controller 102, a signalline RXD (Received Data) for transmitting data from the controller 102to the video game machine 101, a signal line SCK (Serial Clock) forsending serial synchronous clock for extracting data from the signallines TXD and RXD for the individual data transmission, a control lineDTR (Data Terminal Ready) for establishing or interrupting thecommunication with the controller 102, and a control line DSR (Data SetReady) for flow control for transmitting a large volume of data.

[0193] It is now necessary to provide a power supply line, although notshown, when the controller 102 and the video game machine 101 areconnected with a cable and power is supplied from such video gamemachine 101 through such cable.

[0194] The transceiver 135 has a communication circuit section 222responsible for bi-directional radio communication, an antenna 223 (44)and a serial interface section 221.

[0195] While the description for the above embodiment dealt the casethat the present invention is applied to the video game machine and thecontroller thereof, the present invention is also applicable to purposesother than such video game machine and the controller.

[0196] The embodiments described in the above are only part of theexamples of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood thatthe present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein without departing from the scope and the spiritthereof.

1. An information processing device capable of connecting a plurality ofoperation terminals comprising: means for generating correlationinformation expressing the correlation between said operation terminalsand information operable therethrough; and means for outputting saidcorrelation information to the operation terminals.
 2. The informationprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the means for generatingthe correlation information generates identification information bywhich a plurality of the operation terminals under connection canindividually be identified as the correlation information.
 3. Theinformation processing device according to claim 1, wherein the meansfor generating the correlation information generates information forsymbolizing information operable through the operation terminals as thecorrelation information.
 4. The information processing device accordingto claim 1, wherein the means for generating the correlation informationgenerates information which can be displayed on a display unit providedto each of the operation terminals as the correlation information.
 5. Aninformation processing device capable of connecting a plurality ofoperation terminals comprising: a unit for generating correlationinformation expressing the correlation between the operation terminalsand information operable therethrough; and a unit for outputting thecorrelation information to the operation terminals.
 6. A method forprocessing information comprising the steps of: generating correlationinformation expressing the correlation between a plurality of operationterminals and information operable therethrough; and outputting thecorrelation information to the operation terminals.
 7. A method forprocessing information according to claim 6, wherein the correlationinformation generated is identification information by which a pluralityof the operation terminals under connection can individually beidentified.
 8. The method for processing information according to claim6, wherein the correlation information generated is information forsymbolizing information operable through the operation terminals.
 9. Themethod for processing information according to claim 6, wherein thecorrelation information generated is information which can be displayedon a display unit provided to each of operation terminals.
 10. Themethod for processing information according to claim 6, furthercomprising the steps of: initializing a table in which a plurality ofsaid operation terminals are entered; detecting any operation terminalunlisted in the table; entering such unlisted operation terminal intothe table; and generating correlation information for the operationterminals entered into the table and outputting such correlationinformation to the corresponding operation terminals.
 11. The method forprocessing information according to claim 10, further comprising thestep of selectively deleting from the table any operation terminal withwhich the communication did not establish.
 12. An operation terminaldevice connected to a predetermined information processing device and iscapable of operating information handled by such information processingdevice comprising: means for providing display visually recognizable bythe operator; and means for receiving at least correlation informationexpressing the correlation between the operator and information operableby such operator among all information handled by the informationprocessing device; wherein the correlation information is displayed onthe means for providing display.
 13. The operation terminal deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the correlation information isidentification information by which a plurality of the operationterminals under connection can individually be identified.
 14. Theoperation terminal device according to claim 12, wherein the correlationinformation is information for symbolizing information operable by theoperator.
 15. An operation terminal device connected to a predeterminedinformation processing device and is capable of operating informationhandled by such information processing device comprising: a unit forproviding display visually recognizable by the operator; and a unit forreceiving at least correlation information expressing the correlationbetween the operator and information operable by such operator among allinformation handled by the information processing device; wherein thecorrelation information is displayed on the unit for providing display.16. An information transmitting device connected to a connectionterminal of an information processing device capable of connecting aplurality of operation terminals, and transmitting information betweenthe information processing device and the operation terminals,comprising; a value setting means for setting a value corresponding withthe connection to the connection terminal of the information processingdevice, wherein information corresponding with the value set by thevalue setting means is transmitted to the operation terminals.
 17. Theinformation transmitting device according to claim 16, furthercomprising: means for judging whether correlation information expressingthe correlation between the operation terminals and information operabletherethrough is successfully supplied from the information processingdevice or not; and a control means for transmitting to the operationterminals the correlation information when the supply thereof wassuccessful, and for transmitting to the operation terminals informationcorresponding with a value set by the value setting means when thesupply of the correlation information was not successful.
 18. Aninformation transmitting device connected to a connection terminal of aninformation processing device capable of connecting a plurality ofoperation terminals, and transmitting information between theinformation processing device and the operation terminals, comprising: aunit for setting a value corresponding with the connection to theconnection terminal of the information processing device, whereininformation corresponding with the value set by the value setting unitis transmitted to the operation terminals.
 19. A method for transmittinginformation comprising the steps of: detecting a set value correspondingwith the connection to a connection terminal of an informationprocessing device capable of connecting a plurality of operationterminals; and transmitting information corresponding with the set valueto the operation terminals.
 20. The method for transmitting informationaccording to claim 19, further comprising the steps of: judging whethercorrelation information expressing the correlation between the operationterminals and information operable therethrough is successfully suppliedfrom the information processing device or not; and transmitting to theoperation terminals the correlation information when the supply thereofwas successful, and transmitting to the operation terminals informationcorresponding with the set value when the supply of the correlationinformation was not successful.
 21. An information communication system,which comprises a plurality of operation terminal devices and aninformation processing device capable of connecting a plurality of suchoperation terminal devices, for effecting information communicationbetween the operation terminal devices and the information processingdevice, wherein the information processing device further comprising:means for generating correlation information expressing the correlationbetween the operation terminal devices and information operabletherethrough; and means for outputting said correlation information tothe operation terminal devices, the operation terminal devices furthercomprising: means for providing display visually recognizable by theoperator; and means for receiving at least correlation informationoutput from the information processing device; wherein the correlationinformation is displayed on the means for providing display of theoperation terminals.
 22. The information communication system accordingto claim 21, wherein the means for generating said correlationinformation generates identification information by which a plurality ofthe operation terminal devices under connection can individually beidentified.
 23. The information communication system according to claim21, wherein the means for generating the correlation informationgenerates information for symbolizing information operable through theoperation terminal devices.
 24. An information communication system,which comprises a plurality of operation terminal devices and aninformation processing device capable of connecting a plurality of suchoperation terminals, for effecting information communication between theoperation terminal devices and the information processing device,wherein the information processing device further comprising: a unit forgenerating correlation information expressing the correlation betweenthe operation terminal devices and information operable therethrough;and a unit for outputting the correlation information to the operationterminal devices, each of the operation terminal devices furthercomprising: a unit for providing display visually recognizable by theoperator; and a unit for receiving at least correlation informationoutput from the information processing device; wherein the correlationinformation is displayed on the unit for providing display of theoperation terminal devices.
 25. A processing program comprising thesteps of: generating correlation information expressing the correlationbetween a plurality of operation terminals and information operabletherethrough; and outputting the correlation information to thecorresponding operation terminals.
 26. The processing program accordingto claim 25, wherein the step for generating the correlation informationfurther comprising the step of: generating information by which aplurality of the operation terminals under connection can individuallybe identified.
 27. The processing program according to claim 25, whereinthe step for generating the correlation information further comprisingthe step of: generating information for symbolizing information operablethrough the operation terminals.
 28. The processing program according toclaim 25, wherein the step for generating the correlation informationfurther comprising the step of: generating information which can bedisplayed on a display unit provided to each of the operation terminals.29. The processing program according to claim 25, further comprising thesteps of: initializing a table in which a plurality of the operationterminals are entered; detecting any operation terminal unlisted in thetable; entering such unlisted operation terminal into the table; andgenerating correlation information for the operation terminals enteredinto the table and outputting such correlation information to thecorresponding operation terminals.
 30. The processing program accordingto claim 29, further comprising the step of selectively deleting fromthe table any operation terminal with which the communication did notestablished.
 31. A recording medium storing a processing program,wherein the processing program comprising the steps of: generatingcorrelation information expressing the correlation between a pluralityof operation terminals and information operable therethrough; andoutputting the correlation information to the corresponding operationterminals.
 32. A recording medium storing a processing program accordingto claim 31, wherein the step of generating the correlation informationgenerates identification information by which a plurality of theoperation terminals under connection can individually be identified. 33.The recording medium storing a processing program according to claim 31,wherein the step of generating the correlation information generatesinformation for symbolizing information operable through the operationterminals.
 34. The recording medium storing a processing programaccording to claim 31, wherein the step of generating the correlationinformation generates information which can be displayed on a displayunit provided to each of the operation terminals.
 35. The recordingmedium storing a processing program according to claim 31, theprocessing program further comprising the steps of: initializing a tablein which a plurality of the operation terminals are entered; detectingany operation terminal unlisted in the table; entering such unlistedoperation terminal into the table; and generating correlationinformation for the operation terminals entered into the table andoutputting such correlation information to the corresponding operationterminals.
 36. The recording medium storing a processing programaccording to claim 35, the program further comprising the step ofselectively deleting from the table any operation terminal with whichthe communication did not establish.